Rope-c lamp



(No Mod-81,)

0.81. BALDWIN. ROPE CLAMP.

No. 488,848. Patented D80. 2o, 1882.

Nrran 'raras arrivi tinten.

OZBO J. BALDWIN, OF YOUNGSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

ROPEHCLAIVI P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 488,348, dated December 20, 1892.

Application iilerl March 17, 1892.

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, OZRo J. BALDWIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Youngsville, in the county of Warren and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Rope-Clamp, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rope-clamps especially adapted for employment with oil-drilling or analogous machinery, and consists in the construction and arrangement of the parts thereof as will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

The object of the invention is to provide a rope-clamp which may be conveniently employed in connecting the ends of what is known as the bull rope of an oil-Well drilling machine in such manner that the tension brought to bear on the clamp will regulate the degree of tightness of binding. In the drawings-Figure l is a perspective view of two ends of a rope showing the iinproved clamp applied thereto and as connecting said ends. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the parts of the rope-clamp detached. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the clamp. Fig.4 is aperspective view showing the manner of applying the clamp to the rope-end.

Similar letters and numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral l designates two semi-cylindrical tubular shells or paris constituting the body of the clamp. The said parts are of duplicate construction and each has a series of spikes or spurs 2, projecting from the inner concave sides thereof. The rear ends of each of said shells or parts l are circumferentially grooved or channeled as at 3, and provided with rearward slightly iiaring lips 4, which are equally cut away, as at 5to provide for moving said lips closely toward each other in applying the clamp to a rope N. The circumferential groove or channel 3 is adapted to receive a half-round ring 6, or a ring of any other preferred construction, which is slipped over the lips 4, and when positioned within the channel or groove 3 is flush with the cylindrical surfaces of the shells or parts l, thereby avoiding projection and making the entire surface of the clamp substantially smooth and unbroken. It will also Serial No. 425,245. (No model.)

be observed that the corners of the lips are rounded or cut away, whereby the shells may be held at an angle to each other and thus introduced into the rinng 6, and the two shells subsequently brouglit together securing the ring and forming one of the two parts of a rope clamp. The opposite ends of each of the cylindrical shells or parts l are beveled or cut away, as at 7, and formed with eyes 8, whose front portions are rounded and thickened, as at 9,so that when the two parts are placed in contact with each other they simulate a portion of a ring and provide an increased bearing-surface, as will be readily understood.

As has been heretofore stated,this clampis especially adapted for use in connection with what is known as a bull rope of an oil-well drilling machine, which, as well understood in the art, travels over suitable pulleys adapted therefor. In applying the clamp to opposite ends of said rope, one section is first applied to the end of the rope, the latter having been previously bound by a suitable binding, and the spikes 2 thereof driven into the said rope Nbutleaving the beveled portion or front end of the said applied clamp part projecting beyond the end of the rope. Before the other section is applied in position, or, in fact, before either section is applied as may be desired, the ring is slipped along the rope beyond the clamp. The second shell or part l is now applied and is tilted at an angle to bring the lip 4 thereof close against the rope in order that the ring 6 may be inserted or seated in the channel or groove 3. The said last-applied section is then forced against the rope N and the spikes or spurs 2 thereof also embedded in the said rope N. Owing to the connection of the parts by the ring 6,they assume an angle to each other, as fully shownA in Fig. 4, and the two ends of the bull-rope to which the devices are applied are then connected by passing a fastening through the eyes 8 of the two sets of clamps to thereby secure the opposite ends of the rope to each other. The beveled construction adjacent t0 the eyes S provides for a depression of the fastening connecting two oppositely-situated clamps in order that said fastening will not be engaged when the clamps pass around a pulley. Owing to the normal angular arrangement of each clamp-section, a yielding ICO movement thereof is provided; and when the tension is increased on the rope to which the clamps are connected, the fastening securing two oppositely-situated clamps draws the cylindrical shells or parts l of each clamp toward each other and forces them more tightly against the rope N, thus increasing the biting action on the rope, and avoids disengagementorbreaking away of the clamp from the rope. It is obviously apparent that this form of clamp maybe used in connection with other forms of ropes,if desired,and it maybe increased or diminished in size as found necessary for different purposes. When it is desired to releasethe clam p from a rope-end, the fastening is removed 'from the eye and each cylindrical shell or part is drawn back so as to disengage the spurs thereof from contact with the rope-end and the ring 6 can be readily slipped off owing to its loose engagement with the parts of the clamp.

It will be understood that the clamp as a whole may be constructed of any suitable kind of metal and in any preferred form, and

as each section or part of each clamp is a duplicate of the other, the formation of the same is rendered very simple, convenient, and comparatively inexpensive.

Having thus described the invention,-what is claimed as new is- In a rope clamp, the combination of the ring 6, and the two semi-cylindrical tubular shells provided internally with spurs, and having their rear ends circumferentially channeled or grooved,and cut away or rounded at the corners, whereby said shells may be held at an angle of inclination to each other and thus introduced into the ring, and the two shells subsequently brought together securing the ring and forming one of two parts of a rope clamp, substantially as described.

In testimony thatI claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

OZRO J. BALDWIN.

Vitnesses:

JOHN H. SIGGERs, HORACE G. PIERsoN. 

